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Sunday, August 21, 2016

Makassar | Finally! La Galigo!

I wrote an entry months back on La Galigo;
a Bugis manuscript from 18th - 20th century of which it is also said to be the largest
works of literature, consisting of 6,000 pages or 300,000 lines of text. And my
draft remain as it is, a one liner.

Why?

Because while writing the post, I found out
that I actually visited Fort Rotterdam where La Galigo Museum is; the one that
I missed out during my visit last December. When I heard that Makassar and Fort
Rotterdam is in our #TripOfWonders itinerary, I knew that I need to pay this
museum a visit. It’s MANDATORY. Yeah, I exaggerated it abit.

To enter the La Galigo Musuem, one has to
pay an entrance fee (but not into the fort) and in here, you get to view a replica
of the UNESCO largest works of literature of all time, the rest is about the
culture and heritage of Makassarese and Buginese. Launched in 1971, this museum
houses approximately 4,999 collections of prehistoric, numismatic, foreign
ceramics, history, manuscripts, and ethnography. Ethnographic collection
consists of various types of technology, art as well as other objects made
​​and used by Bugis, Makassar, Bajau, Mandar and Toraja ethnicity. Aside from
the earlier stated, La Galigo Museum also has collections from local kingdoms
and weapons during the revolution.

So one might ask, what is La Galigo
literature is all about?

La Galigo is one of the sons Sawerigading
Opunna Ware (Leader/Head of State of Ware), a famous figure in the mythology of
Bugis, from his marriage to We Cudai Daeng Risompa of the Kingdom of China
Wajo. As an adult, La Galigo crowned Pajung Lolo (viceroy) in Luwu kingdom, in
the 14th century.

The
cycle tells the story of the initial residence on earth of the gods and their
descendants. Sawérigading is the main protagonists of the story. He makes
extensive travels and falls deeply in love with his twin sister. This
incestuous love is strictly prohibited and Sawérigading ultimately marries
another woman. In the end the whole divine family gathers in Luwuq and all gods
depart from the earth, having lived there for six generations. From Open Science Meeting.

Aside from the heritage and a replica of
the literature, the museum also displays Sulawesi’s ethnicity namely Makassarese,
Buginese, Mandarese, Minahasan, Toraja and Bajauan as well as their customs. Definitely
a worthwhile attraction to include into your Makassar itinerary.

Fort Rotterdam and Museum La Galigo

Jl. Ujung Pandang

No.2, Makassar

Sulawesi

Indonesia

Entrance Fee

La Galigo : IDR 10,000 p/pax

Fort courtyard : FREE

Opening Hours : 8:00am – 6:00pm

Trip of Wonders– Indonesia Social Media Fam
Trip is in collaboration with Tourism Indonesia.